I guess to answer this question you need to first assess what type of rider you are. Are you more a climber than a descender? Do you fly through singletrack or long for fire roads? In a race like the TransRockies (TR) it's fair to say that you'll have to face all types of terrain...so which areas do you want your bike to work with you and which do you want extra help with? The right, or wrong, bike can make the difference between finishing the race or not. To this end you also need a reliable bike that's strong enough for the abuse it will take but light enough to tackle the long dragging climbs of the Rockies and comfortable enough for the rider to endure seven very hard days in the saddle.
So, with all this in mind, I decided I needed a bike that would climb efficiently but which would allow me to enjoy the singletrack and long descents (my strengths). It was always going to be a full sus bike - no question of even considering a hardtail for this event....my bones are getting too old to stand up to that type of abuse for seven days!
I figured a 4-5" travel bike would be perfect and set about making a shortlist of bikes to try out.
After much testing the final choice came down to three bikes - the LOOK 996, the Giant Anthem X and the Yeti ASR5 alloy.
First up, the LOOK. At this point I must add that I am the PR agent for LOOK's UK distributor, Fisher Outdoor Leisure, so I was lucky enough to try one out at the UK launch of the 2011 range. First impressions were that of lust! This is a very, very pretty bike. A full carbon frame, the LOOK 996 offered a really stiff but comfortable ride in a lightweight package. It was responsive, handled beautifully and the quality of finish on the frame was like nothing I had ever seen on an MTB before...true craftmanship in action! Being a client of mine, you may think I have a touch of bias in saying all of this..but in reality, with bias aside, I would recommend this bike to anyone in a heartbeat. For anybody wanting the ultimate race weapon this should be tried out. However, for me, heading into grizzly country for seven days on sharp nasty rocks...a carbon frame no matter how well it is made would always worry me a little. I am sure it would be fine, LOOK's carbon technology is pioneering ...but I'm old skool in my approach I'm afraid. For that reason, and that reason alone...I ruled this one out and my attention moved to alloy frames.
So to the Anthem X. Another great bike. I'm not sure I, or anyone else for that matter, can say anything about the Anthem that hasn't already been said countless times. It's fast, it's unbelievably agile, it's strong and it's just an absolute blast to ride fast. In the 2011 frame only colour of silver and black it looks quite sexy too! But it's 'ride me faster' character is both its strong point and, for the TR race, its downfall. Riding this bike for seven days would be great fun...and would eek every bit of speed from any rider...but at the end, you'd be beaten up...well I would anyway. For me, and this is a personal thing of course, I'm just not sure I could ride it hard for seven days in succession. Some people also point at its steep geometry not being suited to the Rocky Mountains...but I don't buy that argument in the slightest. Ridden properly and sensibly, this bike would cope admirably with anything you could ever throw at it. I just fear, in my case, the rider could not last the distance on it.
Having said all that...I bought one. For 2012, my XC race bike will be a Giant Anthem X...for this purpose (the one it was designed for of course) it really is a fun bike. For the TransRockies, maybe not.
However, if there is one perfect bike out there for every rider...the Yeti ASR5 is just that for me. Give me the Rockies, a local loop or a trip to Afan...this bike is as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned. I first tried one last September when the ever helpful Stu from Yeti's UK distributors lent me a demo bike to try out at Newnham Park. The first thing that hit me was just how responsive the bike was. Every ounce of pedal input propelled the bike forward with no wasted energy or detectable pedal bob. As I hit the first section of singletrack, the bike really came alive. You often hear MTB journalists talk about 'finding your flow'...right there, right then, I found mine. The bike felt alive but always safe. I felt trust in the bike right from the off. It's finely tuned suspension lets you feel the terrain like very few bikes I've ever ridden and it just inspires confidence.
The first climb at Newnham came and went with no dramas (a miracle for me...I hate climbing). The back end was stiff and despite me being a fairly heavy rider, never once felt like it was flexing or moving in any way other than the right way. The bike just tracked perfectly and as for those looks..what can I say?...it's a very sexy bike indeed. I guess it's like...dare I say it with my fiancee likely to read this?
What the heck...it has to be said...it's like Kate Beckinsale in many ways. At first glance, she looks lovely. Look again and you just start to drool! (at this stage I must apologise for any offence to female readers...and to my fiancee. I'll wash up tonight dear).
So for me there was only ever one winner and last week I took delivery of a black anodised ASR5 alloy from Bromley Bike. Howard (Bromley Bike's main man...and a top bloke too) built the frame up with a selection of SRAM components and Thomson and Easton finishing kit. For now, it's running on Stans Crest wheels built on Hope Pro2 hubs but these may be upgraded to Stans Arch or even Mavic 819s for the main event in August. The SRAM kit is everything I've come to expect from them...high quality, perfect function, good looks and a 'fit and forget' assurance that it'll work how, as and when you need it to.
The results? My personal perfect bike build. I've long been a fan of all things Yeti. Many companies fail to live up to their claims. Yeti, in my experience at least, are not one of these companies. They deliver great riding bikes that you love to own and I am sure this one will be no different.
I will keep you updated with how it performs in the upcoming months alongside my regular fitness and training updates. For now though, here's some pictures of 'Betty the Yeti' (long story...blame the kids)
Betty in all her glory...
Waiting for collection at Bromley Bike. Check these guys out - excellent service!
Carbon swing arm with the magic 'Y' word emblazoned on it
Headset duties from the fabulous Mr King...
The 'drifting Yeti'...kind of sums my riding style up perfectly. But with less hair in my case!
Dependable Hope hubs, 185mm rotor and SID 120 fork...great combo.
Maxlelite keeping things nice and stiff at the front. No more QRs for me.
3x9 Truvativ Noir from SRAM...light, tough, stunning.
SRAM X9 front mech. Sweet shifting guaranteed.
X0 rear derailleur with Gore sealed cables.
Elixir R stopping power with X0 shifter hiding underneath. Pure class.
And speaking of pure class...
So that's all for this time. Another blog will come along very shortly with an update on my training and the selection of my riding partner for the TransRockies.
Until then, take care and enjoy your riding.
Mark
